Bird ~ Steve Bird Winery & Vineyards Ltd

A notoriously difficult variety to grow, Gewurztraminer requires great attention to detail in the vineyard

At its very best in cool climates such as Alsace it produces opulent, heavily scented wines with great depth of flavour and masses of rich fruit and spicy aromatics.

In New Zealand it is a variety of minor importance. However planted on appropriately cool sites and managed with purpose and deliberate care the wines can be truly magnificent.

Gewurztraminer is particularly susceptible to the effects of cold weather during flowering and as such can have significant variability in yield from season to season, hence the pursuit of winemaking with this variety requires considerable courage and fortitude on the part of the winemaker.

2008 Gewurztraminer - Tasting Note:

Very aromatic with loads of tropical fruit, lychee, and ginger spice. Ripe and concentrated with amazing weight for a dry wine. The fruit is intense and persistent, finishing with a refreshing little acid snap.

Download 2008 tasting note (pdf)

2007 Gewurztraminer - Tasting Note:

 An exotic wine exhibiting the classic spice this variety is renowned for. The palate is full, round and rich, drenching the tongue with tropical fruit flavours. The structure is impressive, soft and supple on the approach with great viscosity through the middle and seamless persistence to the end.

Down load 2007 tasting note (pdf)

2006 Gewurztraminer - Tasting Note:

This wine is an eruption of exotic fruits and spices with strong threads of rose blossom filling the nose. The palate is ripe, full and robust, packed with flavour and perfectly tailored to give great length and persistence that lingers almost endlessly on the back of the tongue.

Down load 2006 tasting note (pdf)